FIFA Punishes South Africa Over Ineligible Player, Group C Blown Wide Open
FIFA has officially sanctioned the South African Football Association (SAFA) for fielding an ineligible player, Teboho Mokoena, in their 2026 World Cup qualifier against Lesotho.
π Sanctions Announced:
π₯ Match forfeited β Lesotho awarded a 3-0 win and 3 points
πΈ SAFA fined CHF 10,000
β οΈ Teboho Mokoena receives a formal warning
This ruling has dramatically changed the dynamics of Group C, making the qualification race even tighter.
π Updated Group C Table:
1οΈβ£ π§π― Benin β 14 pts
2οΈβ£ πΏπ¦ South Africa β 14 pts
3οΈβ£ π³π¬ Nigeria β 11 pts
4οΈβ£ π·πΌ Rwanda β 11 pts
5οΈβ£ π±πΈ Lesotho β 9 pts
6οΈβ£ πΏπΌ Zimbabwe β 4 pts
With just a few games left, Nigeriaβs Super Eagles must now deliver in their remaining fixtures to keep qualification hopes alive. Fans are already doing the math as the group stands on a knifeβs edge.
The road to the 2026 FIFA World Cup is now more unpredictable than ever.
